Shoe machine



July 24, 1934. F. salccA ET AL 1,967,973

SHOE MACHINE Filed April.Y 13,'1933 bsheets-Sheet' 1 July 24, 1934- l F. sBlcCA mj AL l 1,967,973

I sHoE MACHINE Filed April 13, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2y July' 24, 1934- F. salccA Er ALT 1,967,973

SHOE MACH INE Filed April 13, 1953 5 Sheets-Shag?I 4 J surface .my 24, 1934. Fr. SBICCA Er AL" n 1,967,973

l sHoE MACHINE" Filed April 13,- 1953 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Mmmm: l W v 3/ M I .92. I ."ISQ 90 W/l/Y A f5 Patented Julyl 24,1934 i I UNITE-'D STATES PATENT oFFicE SHOE MAmE Frank Sbicca, Sante Baroni, and Ulrlc S. J. Dunbar, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to'Sbicca Method Shoes Incorporated, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware appli-cation April 13, 1933, semi No. 666,046

1': claims. (ci. n n) Thepresent invention relates to cutting and A further object is generally to provide imsplitting apparatus and gauge means therefor proved cutting apparatus and/or splitting apvand is especially useful in performing the cutting `paratus and gauge means therefor. and splitting operations described in application These and other objects are attained by lthe Serial No. 573,676, filed November 7, 1931, in the apparatus shown inthe accompanying drawings 60 name of Frank Sbicca, for Method of producing wherein, for the purpose of illustration, we have complementary insole-outsole combinations, alshow n a preferred embodiment of the invention though the present apparatus obviously may be and wherein: used generally for cutting or splitting leather, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of cutting and splitfiber and sheets or webs of other material. ting apparatus constructed in accordance with 65 According to the method described in said apour invention; plication, a composite sole consistingof an insole Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

having a recess at the ball portion and an out- Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

sole having a complementary projection are pro- Fig. f1 is an enlarged plan view of the end l5 duced from a sole blank of the desired thickness gauge mechanism;

of the sole in the nished shoe. In practicing Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

said method, a transverse cut is made in the Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line esh side of the blank at an angle. inclined 6--6 of Fig. 2;y

downwardly toward the heel of the blank and Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the 2U to adepth of the desired thickness of the insole cutting and splitting accomplished by the ma- 75 and of a width of the rear edge of the recess in chine; the insole, the blank is split in a plane parallel Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view showing to the iiesh and grain sides forthe full width the control mechanism in a position of rest; thereof from the end of the heel to said transand 6 verse cut, and a rand is removed from the mar- Fig. 9 is a similar view illustrating the method 80 gin of the ball section of the esh side of the of providing for clutch control while maintainblank while leaving the same attached to the ing the clamping action. forward end of the insole shank. The first two Referring now more particularly to the drawcutting operations are performed on the appara-` ings, the numeral 10 generally designates a main 'tus of the present invention and the removal bed at present shown as supported by standards 85 of the rand is accomplished in any suitable way, 11. At the rear end of the bed a one revolupreferably as described inthe patent above idention clutch mechanism 12 is mounted, this clutch tied. Y mechanism driving both a vertical shaft 13 and .an important object of the present invention a crank arm 14 when activated. The clutch is the provision of apparatus which facilitates mechanism comprises merely the ordinary 90 the cutting operations involved in the method mechanism employed in operation of heel splitdescribed in said applicationand which permits ters and constitutes no portion of the present the production of composite soles in an eicient, invention except in combination with the recommercially feasible and practical manner. maining mechanism. For the purpose of the .10 In the practice of the method of making shoes present description, it will suice to say that 95 as described in the application referred'to, it upon rocking of a lever 15, shaft 13 and arm 14 is important to accurately locate the position are connected to a continuously driven sleeve of the transverse cut as this determines the 16 through one rotation of said sleevefassumposition of the rear edge of the recess in the ing that the lever 15 has been released immeinsole at the ballline. This position is prefdiately after its operation so that the discon- 100 erably varied a small amount insoles for shoes necting element 17 associated therewith is posiof the same size but of different styles. tioned to disengage the clutch. Crank 14, as' Another object of the present invention is to in the heel splitting mechanism above referred provide the cutting apparatus with gauge means to, operates a reciprocating carriage 16 bearing whereby the position of the transverse cut can a splitting knife 19 by means `of which the sole 105 be accurately and quicklyv determined by the is split. The carriage 18 operates upon guides 20 operator for soles of different sizes and styles. extending longitudinally of the sides of bed Another object of the invention is to provide 10 and in addition to the knife this carriage fan improved apparatusf cutting and splitting also mounts a shaft 21 extending transversely a blank with. a high dgeelof accuracy. over the bed of the machine and bearing a corrugated roller 22 and side guide depressing rollers 23. Springs 24 acting upon bearings 25 for shaft 21 urge these bearings upwardly and the upward limit of movement of the bearings is controlled through a longitudinally adjustable bar 26 having cams 27 to operatively engage the bearings. The position of this bar is controlled through a nut 28 on the bar and engaging a threaded shaft 29 operated through a hand-wheel 30 and locked in position through a nut 31. Nut 28 of bar 26 is preferably equipped with a pointer 32 co-acting with an index 33 so that the position of roller 22 may be accurately determined for purposes hereinafter to become obvious.

Supported above the bed 10 and suitably guided therefrom forvertical reciprocation, as by means of dowels 34, is a frame 35 which-is normally kept in an elevated position by relatively strong springs 36 having their ends housed in pockets formed in the bed and frame. The upper surface'of this frame which is designed to receive the sole being operated on, is preferably milled, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6 so that sufficient friction will be set up by the sole and bed to prevent slipping of the sole, particularly when clamped in the manner hereinafter described. Along the sides of the frame slots are provided in which are mounted side guides 37, these side guides having their adjacent faces diverging rearwardly and constituting guides for the side edges of soles S placed on the bed. The guide employed depends upon whether the sole acted on is a right or left, and the purpose of providing angularity in the guides is to provide for angular positioning of the soles so that the cut formed by knife 19 may be properly related to the sole. Side guides 37 are guided for vertical movement in the bed as indicated at 38 and are supported by springs 39 for movement independently of frame 35. Rollers 23, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, are of slightly greater diameter than the roller 22 and align with side guides 37 to move along and. depress these guides below the level of cutting edge of knife 19 during advance of carriage 18 over the frame.

At the front end of the frame we provide the end gauge mechanism more clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This end gauge comprises a longitudinally movable gauge element 40 operating in a slot 41 of the frame 35 and an auxiliary gauge element 42 likewise disposed in a slot 41 and in side-to-side relation to the main gauge element 40. Main gauge element 40 has a toe stop 43 in the form of a transverse bar extending to opposite sides of slot 41 and over the auxiliary gauge element 42. A pin 44 extending downwardly from the rear end of main gauge element 40 and operating in a slot 45 through -the bottom wall of slot 41 acts, through a spring 46, to hold the rear ends of the main and auxiliary gauge elements down in proper position and the toe stop 43 in engagement with the upper surface of frame 35.

At their forward ends, the gauge elements 40 and42 pass beneath a keeper 47 including a spring leaf 48 for holding these elements in position in the slot 41, and a set screw 49 which serves to prevent movement of the elements against the action of spring 43` when so desired. Beneath the keeper 47 the frame is recessed at 50 and houses a latch plate 513having an upwardly projecting lug 52 for selective coaction with notches 53 formed in the lower surfaces of the gauge elements 40 and 42. Latch plate 51 has an operating portion 54 which has its'lower face notched at 55 for co-action with a lug 56 extending upwardly from the lower surface of recess 50 so that the latch plate may be placed in either of two selected positions spaced longitudinally of frame 35; thus varying the p0- sition of latch lug 52 longitudinally of the bed. The auxiliary gauge element has an index 57 co-acting with a scale 58 upon the frame 35 while toe stop 43 co-acts with a scale 59 on the auxiliary gauge member 42. Scale 59 is graduated in shoe sizes, while scale 58 is graduated in styles. The shift in position of auxiliary gauge element 42 to various styles will compensate for the difference ir sizes in different styles of the various shoe sizes.

The change in position of latch plate 51 ailows for compensation for slight over-sizes resulting from pattern differences. With the sole S. disposed on frame 35 and its proper side edge against vthe proper side guide 37, aid its toe abutting toe stop 43, an operation of crank arm 14 will advance the knife over the bed to split the sole from the heel to a desired central point forming the cui indicated at C in Fig. '1. Roller 22, during this operation, passes over the upper surface of the sole to hold it firmly against the framev35 and by the pressure exerted on this sole determines the. depression of frame 35 against the action of its spring 36 and, therefore, the extent of depth of the split. Rollers 23 will act to depress the side guides 37 suiciently to prevent contact of knife 19 therewith but without completely depressing these side guides so that the sole could be forced sidewise by the roller 23.

It will be obvious that some means must be provided for initially clamping the sole so that the roller 22 will not cause the same to shift longitudinally upon the milled'surface of frame 35. Likewise, some means must be provided for forming the cut C1, Fig. 7, which extends diagonally downwardly through the sole intermediate the edges thereof and meets cut C. This means we have shown as incorporated in a single unit, more particularly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 6. In these figures the numeral 60 designates the cross bar extending transversely over frame 35 and having its lower surface toothed as at 61. The teeth 6l should be of such character that they will not embed themselves in the sole to an extent that the sole is picked up when bar 60 is raised from its clamp- .ing position in a manner hereinafter described.

At its ends, bar 60 is mounted on verticallyextending standards 62 at present shown as extending through bed 10 and frame 35 and as there being joined to a head 63 which is normally maintained in an elevated position through springs 64. A treadle 65 is connected to the head 63 through links 66, which treadle serves as a means for depressing the bar and bringing it into clamping engagement with a sole S disposed on the frame 35. Bar 60 has a longitudinallyextending, downwardly and are guides 73 mounting bearing blocks 74 forV reciprocation in the general direction of slot 67. A knife shaft 75 is mounted in the bearing 74 and has its end projected beyond the sides of the frame. Between the bearings 74, this shaft carries a mounting 76 for the knife 68,l

which mounting may be secured in adjusted positions through set screw 77. Shaft 75 has indexes 78 to co-operate with the knife holder so that the position of knife 68 may be rapidly and accurately determined. l

The ends of shaft 75 are engaged by the ends of links 79, which links are adjustable as to length as at 80 and at their` opposite ends are connected to a crank pin 81 at present shown as mounted on a gear 82. Gear 82, through suitable gearing generally designated at 83 is driven from. the lower end of shaft 13 and, consequently, gear 82 and crank 81 are rotated once for each rotation of the crank 14.

It will be noted that the position of the pin 81 in the idle position of the one-way clutch mechanism is such that intial operation of the clutch mechanism will cause the knife to be advanced to form the cut C with the result that this mife has completed its operation and is receding by the time that the splitting knife 19 approaches the same.

It will be obvious that the clamp comprising bar 60 must be employed in holding the sole S until the cutting and splitting operation has been entirely completed for, otherwise, the drag of the roller 22 and the friction of knife 19 would tend to drag the sole longitudinally of frame 35. 0n the o'ther hand, the clutch mechanism must be released immediately after tripping orl'ithe clutch will repeat and damage the so e.

In order that these results may be obtained and treadle 65 at the same time act as the control both for the clamp and the clutch, we provide the release mechanism more particularly illustrated in Figs. 1, 8 and 9. This release mechanism comprises a reciprocating actuator 84 and a reciprocating and oscillatable clutch trip 85.

` The clutch trip 85 is in the form of a body slidable between suitable guides 86 and having pin 'and slot engagement with theseV guides as indicated at 87 and 88 respectively. The pin and slot engagement at 88 which occurs at the forward end of the clutch trip embodies a slot which is relatively wide at its rear end so that the pin 89 may be moved vertically therewith. The bottom walls of both ots of the pin and slot connections 87 and 88 incline upwardly and forw'ardly with the result that the actuator 88 is bodily lifted as it `is shifted forwardly. The actuator is, through -a suitable connection 90 attached to the lever 15 and a spring 91 which ordinarily functions merely to place the clutch lever in its releasing position. normally maintained in its rear position as indicated in Fig. 8. The under surface of the trip has a shoulder 92 cof-acting with a shoulder 93 on the actuator 84 and, as the actuator 84 is drawn forwardly upon depressionV of treadle 65, trip 85 is drawn forwardly until the pin and slot connections thereof have sulciently elevated it to cause the shoulders 92 and 93 to disengage when the trip moves rearwardly restoring the clutch control to its releasing position while leaving actuator 84 in itsforward position so that the clamping action of the b'ar may be maintained. When the treadle 65 is released after a cutting operation, a spring V94 draws the actuator'84rearwardly and the rounded -noses 95- of the actuator and trip co-act to wedge the forward end of the trip upwardly so that shoulders 92 and 93 may reassume the positions shown in Fig. 8.

The operation of the entire machine is as `follows: the sole is placed on the frame 35, proper adjustments of the gauge elements having previously been made; the sole is slid under bar 63 and arranged against the proper side guide with the end of the toe abutting toe stop 43; treadle 65 is then depressed, this depression bringing the bar into clamping engagement with the sole and tripping clutch 12. The clutch makes a single operation and the initial portion of this operation actuates knife 68 to form the cut C. At the same time carriage 19 is advancing over frame 35 to form the split and will, ofcourse, slightly depress this frame so that the depth at which the split is made may be accurately determined. During this time; the operator keeps his weight against the t treadle 65. 'I'he splitting operation having been completed, the operator releases his .weight from the treadle, removes the sole and replaces it with a second similar sole.

Since the construction illustrated is, obviously, capable of considerable modification, we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a frame av knife mounted for movement toward and away from the top of the frame and also laterally thereof, a laterally movable member for guiding said knife for movement at an angle to'produce a bevel cut, and means for' securing the knife in laterally adjusted positions.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a frame a clamp mounted for movement toward and ally of said clamp, and a knife movable in said knife guide and slot. 3. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a clamp mounted for movement toward and away from the top of said frame, said clamp having a slot inclined downwardly toward the top of said frame, a knife guide on said clamp, 1 and a knife movable in said knife guide and slot.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a knife mounted for movement toward and away from the top of the frame and also laterally thereof, a laterally movable member 1 for guiding said knife for movement at an angle to produce a bevel cut, a reciprocable holder carrying said knife, and means for securing said holder in laterally adjusted positions.

5. In apparatus ofthe class described.' a frame, a clamp mounted for movement toward and away from the top of said frame, said clamp having a slot inclined downwardly toward the top of said frame, a knife guide movable laterally of said clamp, a knife movable in said knife 1 guide and slot, and a reciprocable holder carrying said knife.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a clamp mounted for movement toward and away from the top of said frame, said clamp 1 having a slot inclined downwardly toward the top of said frame, a lmife guide movable laterally of the top of said clamp, a knife-movable in said knife guide and slot, a knife operating member, and means providing a connection be- 1 tween said knife 'and said operating member constructed and arranged to maintain the knife in laterally adjustedpositions.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a

' 5 frame, means to clamp a blank to the frame,

means to form a transverse cut in the blank from one surface thereof, means to split the blank parallel to a face ofthe blank from an end thereof to such transverse cut, and means to actuate said clamp and said cutting and splitting means.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, means to clamp a blank to the frame, means to form a transverse cut in the blank from one surface thereof, means to split the blank from an end thereof to said transverse cut, and means actuated by operation of said clamp for operating said cutting and splitting means.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, means to clamp a blank to the frame, means to form a cut in the blank from one surface thereof, means to split the blank from an f end thereof to said cut, a non-repeat clutch mechanism to actuate said cutting and splitting means, and means to operate said clamp constructed and arranged to actuate said clutch.

10. In sole-splitting apparatus, a frame to receive the sole, means to determine the position of the sole upon the frame including an end and depressible side guides, means to split the sole comprising a carriage reciprocating over the frame and a knife carried by said carriage, and means upon the carriage engaging the side guides and depressing the same as the carriage moves over the frame.

11. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a knife mounted for movement toward and away from the top of said frame, and means for guiding said knife for movement at an angle to produce a bevel cut in work supported by the frame including a clamp for work to be operated on by said knife.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a frame, a knife mounted for movement toward and away from the top of said frame, means for guiding said knife for movement at an angle to produce a bevel cut in work supported by the frame including a clamp for work to be operated on by said knife, means to operate said clamp, and means actuated as an incident to operation of the clamp for operating -said knife.

13. In apparatus of the type described, a frame, means to clamp a sole blank to the frame, means to forma transverse cut in the clamped blank, the cut having its ends spaced from the side of the blank, means to split the clamped blank parallel to a face thereof, and means coordinating operation of said cutting and splitting means.

14. A device as claimed in claim 10 wherein a clamping element is provided for clamping the sole to the frame, and operating means for said carriage actuated as an incident to movement of the clamping element to clamping position.

15. A device in accordance with claim 10 wherein means are provided for forming a transverse slit in the sole blank at the forward end of the split formed by said knife.

16. In an apparatus of the type described, a frame, a knife mounted for movement toward and away from the top of the frame and likewise laterally thereof, means for securing the knife in laterally adjusted positions, I spaced angularly related side guides carried by the frame for engagement by right or left hand blanks to be operated on by said knife and an adjustable end stop carried by the frame for engagement with either right or left hand blanks, and means for operating said knife.

17. In apparatus of the type described, a frame, means to clamp a sole blank to the frame, means to form a.v transverse cut in the blank having its ends spaced from the sides of the blank and defining the junction of the sole and shank sections of the blank, means to split the clamped blank parallel to a face thereof throughout the heel and shank portions to said transverse cut, and means coordinating operation of said cutting and splitting means.

FRANK SBICCA. SANTE BARONI. ULRIC S. J. DUNBAR. 

